Seo Business

How Profitable Is A Seo Business? (Updated for 2024)

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 7th, 2024

How Profitable Is A Seo Business? (Updated for 2024)

So you want to start a SEO business?

And the first question that came to your mind was, “well, are SEO businesses actually profitable?”

With a market size of $43.3B - there’s plenty of business to go around.

Especially considering:

You could start a SEO business with as low as $60
Based on our data, SEO businesses generate an average of $1.25M per year
You could see gross margins as high as 80% with SEO businesses

There’s money to be made. Don’t worry.

But, I don't want to spoil it all. Below we’ll cover everything you need to know when it comes to the profitability of a SEO business.

Let’s dive in!

Is a SEO business profitable?

Yes, a SEO business is generally a profitable business. However, you still need to consider several factors since these things always impact the overall outcome.

For instance, since average revenue is $1.25M per year with an estimated gross margin of 83%, you could expect to recover your investment within 12 months or even less.

But of course, it all comes down to how much you earn compared to the potential revenues of your SEO business.

To determine whether your business is profitable, you should earn more than your expenses in the beginning months. However, while you're in your first month, it can be challenging to know what to expect.

Therefore, you should maintain a record of your monthly expenses and income to determine whether you're meeting your goals. By doing this step, you can see how your SEO business is doing and if any changes or adjustments need to be made to enhance or maintain your efforts.

Is a SEO business worth it?

If you’re wondering if a SEO business is worth it, the answer is a big YES. With SEO businesses, you have the potential to earn $1.25M per year (this is based on data reported by real founders).

Further, you could have your initial investment back within months. Simply put, it’s a business worth a shot, especially if you have the resources and make the necessary efforts to achieve or surpass the target.

With a market size of $43.3B, it will be possible for you to build something that grows and turns into a flourishing business. As such, it’s the type of business you might want to consider starting.

Of course, you must learn and understand every aspect of running a SEO business to ensure success. Still, as long as you have the initial investment and can endure a few months before your actual gains, this business could be worth it.

You might want to consider reading more specifics about successful SEO businesses case studies.

Examples Of Profitable Seo Businesses

Here are a few examples of profitable SEO businesses, and a few more details about them:

1. backl.io ($62.4K/year)

Philipp, a product manager in Switzerland, created SEO Kickstarter as he struggled to get traffic for his shared flat site without using ads. Frustrated by the manual effort of backlink outreach, he automated the process and launched a guide, now boasting $5K MRR.

Is it profitable? Yes
What's the gross margin? 80%
How much money it makes: $62.4K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500

I Used Twitter To Build My Startup And Made $3.5K On Launch Day

A Product Manager builds a successful side business that generates $5K MRR by creating an SEO guide for startups, turning initial failures into a profitable venture with a Twitter launch strategy that brings in 87 sales and $3400 revenue within a day.

Read this case study

Read by 2,599 founders

2. PageTraffic ($1.2M/year)

Navneet Kaushal, the founder & CEO of PageTraffic, came up with the idea for his SEO agency after experiencing the impact of the internet during his MBA studies. He tested SEO strategies on his own website and saw it rank in the top ten within months. With a passion for digital marketing and a desire to help businesses succeed, Navneet launched PageTraffic in 2002 and has since grown it into a successful agency with a strong online presence and a global client base.

Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K

I Created A $1.2M/Year SEO Agency From India

Navneet Kaushal, founder & CEO of PageTraffic, shares how he started an SEO agency in India in 2002, which now generates over $1.2 million in annual revenue and attracts clients globally.

Read this case study

Read by 5,029 founders

3. OneSEO ($180K/year)

Samer Awada came up with the idea for OneSEO.io while running a digital agency and realizing the inefficiency of spending hours on link acquisition and blogger outreach. He saw the demand for SEO services and decided to create a scalable solution by packaging his agency's SEO services into a software-as-a-service (SaaS) business model. With a beta version of OneSEO, he was able to generate over $1,000 in revenue in the first month and, a year later, the company had a monthly recurring revenue of $15,000.

Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $180K/year

Quitting My Full Time Agency Job To Build My Own Software Product

OneSEO.io is an SEO marketing business that helps digital agencies and business owners increase website relevancy, generating over $50,000 in revenue with an average MRR of $15,000 through Facebook ads and email marketing, with a focus on providing value to leads and building trust.

Read this case study

Read by 14,682 founders

Learn more about starting a SEO business:

Where to start?

-> How much does it cost to start a SEO business?
-> Pros and cons of a SEO business

Need inspiration?

-> Other SEO business success stories
-> Marketing ideas for a SEO business

Other resources

How much can you make with a SEO business?

With a SEO business, you can make an average of $1.25M revenue per year (based on data reported by real businesses).

You can start with an initial investment as low as $60. Then, with proper knowledge and sustained effort, you could have an ROI (return of investment) within 12 months.

How much does a SEO business make a week?

Based on our data, average weekly revenue for a SEO business ranges around $26.1K. As such, you could see monthly revenues of $105K.

To know if your SEO business achieves the weekly profit target, you need to keep track of the total earnings you get per day. Afterward, you'll want to consider subtracting the expenses you have daily.

Learning your weekly profit can also show whether you're hitting your target goal for your SEO business.

How much do SEO businesses owners make?

The income of a SEO business owner can vary depending on various factors such as location, size, competition, and the owner's business skills.

But to give you some idea, the weekly revenue of an established SEO business is about $26.1K. But this can be lower or higher depending on so many factors - it's almost impossible to say exactly.

While the potential for earning a good income as a SEO business owner exists, success in this field requires a commitment to providing quality products and services and building a strong reputation within the community.

Seo Business Profit Margins

Generally speaking, a SEO business can expect profit margin of around 83%. Profit margins refer to the percentage of revenue that remains after deducting all expenses associated with running a business. In the case of a SEO business, profit margins can vary depending on various factors, such as the type and quality of products sold, the size of the store, and the level of competition in the area.

However, these figures can vary depending on the pricing strategy, inventory management, and overall efficiency of the business. To maintain healthy profit margins, SEO business owners must focus on managing costs, negotiating favorable supplier terms, and providing high-quality products and services to attract and retain customers. By doing so, SEO business owners can ensure long-term sustainability and profitability for their business.

Seo business owner salary

The salary of a SEO business owner is an unpredictable figure. It's significantly influenced by numerous factors, including the store's location, its size, and the degree of competition. An owner of a well-established SEO business, in a prime position, might see an average weekly salary around the ballpark of $21.7K.

But it's worth noting, such numbers aren't always consistent. The earnings can vary wildly, potentially swinging by as much as 80% either way.

Achieving consistent success and maintaining a reliable income stream in this industry requires a deep commitment. It's imperative to offer high-quality products, deliver impeccable customer service, and nurture a trusted bond with the community you serve.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, based on many of our examples, a SEO business may be a promising business to start - but the success of your SEO business mostly depends on your effort and your approach.

If you focus on these, you'll have a much higher chance of a profitable SEO business.

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Starting A Seo Business: Everything You Need To Know

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